Fluoxetine (Prozac) is a Potent Inhibitor of Coxsackievirus Replication

3Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095

ABSTRACT

No antiviral drugs currently exist for the
treatment of enterovirus infections, which are often severe and
potentially life-threatening.
Molecular screening of small molecule libraries
identified fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as a
potent
inhibitor of coxsackievirus replication. Fluoxetine
did not interfere with either viral entry or translation of the viral
genome. Instead, fluoxetine and its metabolite
norfluoxetine markedly reduced the synthesis of viral RNA and protein.
In view
of its favorable pharmacokinetics and safety
profile, fluoxetine warrants additional study as a potential antiviral
agent
for enterovirus infections.